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The 2-year-old Akita that attacked a 7-year-old girl at a shelter in western Riverside County is in an Animal Services kennel. Frame Grab from video provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services

The 2-year-old Akita that attacked a 7-year-old girl at a shelter in western Riverside County is in an Animal Services kennel. Frame Grab from video provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services

The 2-year-old Akita that attacked a 7-year-old girl at a shelter in western Riverside County is in an Animal Services kennel. Frame Grab from video provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services

The 2-year-old Akita that attacked a 7-year-old girl at a shelter in western Riverside County is in an Animal Services kennel. Frame Grab from video provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services

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The owner of a Japanese hunting dog that nearly ripped a girl's face off late last month is appealing the decision of a hearing officer to grant ownership to the county so it could be destroyed.

Cheryl Wetherford of Romoland, who owns the akita through the rescue group A Passion for Paws Rescue Inc., has appealed to Riverside County Superior Court. A hearing date has not yet been set.

The nonprofit group based in Romoland — about 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles — focuses on Akita rescues.

The 2-year-old Akita that attacked a 7-year-old girl at a shelter in western Riverside County is in an Animal Services kennel.(Photo: Frame Grab from video provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services)

Hearing officer Elio Palacios ruled June 3 in favor of the county Animal Services department's requests to have the dog declared vicious and to be granted permission to humanely euthanize the animal.

The dog, named Tux, attacked the 7-year-old girl May 26 when her family went to adopt the dog.

The girl, who has not been identified, needed 1,000 stitches to reconstruct her face.

Animal services officers, in a database search, found "at least five other serious bites involving dogs at or from this kennel" since 2013. Two of those occurred last year. "The investigation includes looking into a handful of other serious bites (that) involved dogs from the kennel," animal services said in a news release.

On the A Passion for Paws Facebook page, a listing for Tux was posted the day before the attack. In it, the group highlighted how well the dog gets along with children.

A Facebook post for the dog that attacked a 7-year-old girl encourages parents with children to adopt it.(Photo: Screen Shot from Facebook Post)

In testimony by phone before Palacios, the victim's father, Tim Brown, noted that his family was trying to find a dog to adopt, and rescue group representatives presented Tux as one candidate.

"While socializing with the dog, Mr. Brown stated that upon his daughter’s reaching to pet the dog, the dog, without warning or apparent provocation, lunged toward his daughter," Palacios wrote. Mr. Brown testified that he was not (nor was anyone in his family) given any warning to avoid getting close to the dog TUX because the dog would be likely to attack as it did."

Lysette Tidwell, a volunteer with the rescue group countered that warning was given. She testified the mother was warned not to get too close, but did. Then the girl went to pet Tux.

"Ms. Tidwell testified that the Reporting Party had instructed his daughter to pet the dog TUX and only after the daughter leaned toward the dog to try to pet it did the dog attack the girl."

Akitas have many defenders, but a large number of experts see them as a threat to children and, if raised improperly, a danger to the public. A Psychology Today article listed them among the 14 most dangerous breeds. Many insurers will not cover an owner for damages caused by akitas.

Wetherford, the owner, filed papers stating the dog would not be adopted out but would live out its life at the rescue group. Palacios ruled that the dog still could injure a volunteer or worker.

Furhter, Palacios ruled that the dog's owner and witnesses tried to show that the girl "had somehow 'provoked' the dog TUX."

"However, this conclusion is without merit," he wrote. "The child merely stood in front of the dog and reached out to pet the dog."

He concluded that "the Department’s request to deem Vicious the dog TUX under governing ordinance is hereby GRANTED. Furthermore, in the interest of public safety the Department’s request for an order of humane euthanasia of the dog TUX is hereby